Puppies have different nutritional requirements than fully grown dogs, so it is always a good idea to feed a puppy food that is age appropriate. Many dog food manufacturers make puppy food in addition to their regular products to cater to the needs of these young pets. Puppies need a lot of fuel to grow and play, so puppy food is generally higher in vitamins, minerals, protein, and essential fats than regular dog food.

There are two different routes one can go when choosing a puppy food for his or her pet. Most grocery stores carry mass-market food manufactured by leading dog food makers such as Purina, Iams, and Beneful. While prices for these food brands can vary, they are generally considered less expensive than other brands. One should be careful though, to choose recognizable brands and avoid ones that have prices that are unusually low. Very low priced food may not have an adequate nutritional content to ensure a puppy’s development and long term health.

One can also opt for more expensive puppy food, generally only available at veterinarian offices or specialty pet stores. One example is Science Diet, and the main advantage to this brand is that there are specialized varieties available to treat medical conditions such as excessive weight or dry skin. A veterinarian can actually prescribe a variety of the food, and the dog owner can pick it up right at the vet’s office. These prescription varieties are not available at specialty pet stores, although more generic versions of the brands are. Another advantage to the more expensive puppy food is that

Puppy food can also be catered to breed size. One obvious difference between large and small breed food varieties is that the kibble size is larger for large dogs, and smaller for breeds that may not be able to handle such big pieces. In addition, large breed dogs often require a different formula than smaller ones. With some larger breeds, growth that is too rapid can cause joint disease and/or degenerative hip problems, so the nutrient formula in the food has to be adjusted down to compensate for this.

Another thing to consider is whether to feed the puppy wet or dry food. If the puppy has any teeth problems that would interfere with his or her ability to chew dry food, then wet food is recommended. In most cases though, veterinarians will typically recommend dry food for puppies because wet food can be bad for a dog’s teeth, as it doesn’t give the jaws and teeth the exercise needed to fully develop. It is also said that if a puppy is started off on wet food, it is difficult to get him or her to eat dry food down the road.

While the more expensive brands available at local veterinarian offices and specialty pet supply stores can offer good nutritional value and specialized care for a puppy, most experts agree that mass-market puppy food available at the grocery store is just fine for most normally developing puppies and offers a good value for the price.